PCSOS VITAL TO PREVENT CRIME

Commenting on an attack by the TaxPayers Alliance on Police Community Support Officers, based on North Wales police unsolved crime figures, UNISON National Officer for Police Staff, Ben Priestley, said:

-The TaxPayers Alliance has missed the point completely – PCSOs help prevent crime, but solving crime is mainly the job of police officers and other police staff.

-The TPA simply uses flawed calculations to attack their latest target – hard-working PCSOs, who play a vital role in building a rapport between communities and the police service.

-PCSOs help prevent anti-social behaviour, build up solid local knowledge and provide a visible police presence, which makes them popular among residents, businesses and schools.

-Reassurance is more important than meaningless statistics and we should be protecting the excellent efforts PCSOs have made in preventing crime.